Eurovision Your Decision Review

May 10, 2025

Eurovision Your Decision Review

9th – 17 May 2025 (excluding 11th)

Producers: Daddy’s Money and Stephen Leslie Productions
Director, Writer & Cast: Tim McArthur

You get to vote for Reform in the local council elections.
You get to vote for Starmer or Badenoch in the General Election.
You get to vote for Brexit.

But never has your vote been so vital. Until now. In the camp frenzy of the Royal Vauxhall Tavern you can have your say for Eurovision. It’s your decision.

Cast your vote wisely.

“It’s a raucous roll in the aisles extravaganza”

This big, bold, hilarious show Eurovision Your Decision is back for a fifth year. And camper than ever. More camp than a Baden-Powell jamboree. The founder of the Boy Scouts movement would be orgasmic. As were many of the performers – and even members of a 130 strong audience who came to worship at this shrine, the legendary RVT.

They came to savour the spangles, sparkles and sequins under the glitter balls. They were arrayed in a camp vibe with their VE Day Union Flag dresses, rainbow shirts and glam, glow make-up.

Writer, director and performer Tim McArthur leads this stellar cast for the 2025 London run, which doesn’t disappoint. It’s a raucous roll in the aisles extravaganza that depends on audience participation. And our first night audience didn’t disappoint.

‘You can’t have a better night out in London for under £20,’ enthused one, eyes streaming from laughter overdose. ‘Colourful, energetic, hilarious. I laughed so hard I feel fantastic.’

‘Made me realise why I love Eurovision – just so funny,’ said another.

The show is right on cue, with Eurovision (the real one) starting on Tuesday with Switzerland hosting in Basel. The grand final is on Saturday. So fill your silver Space Man boots a la Sam Ryder of the UK who was only pipped to the post in 2022 by a solidarity vote for Ukraine in the wake of Russia’s invasion.

Hosts Katie (Lucy Penrose) and Demetrius (Tim McArthur) introduce 14 hit songs from past Eurovision Song Contests, all performed by a hugely talented West End cast, after which you, the audience, get to crown the winner in a live vote.

Part parody, part cabaret, part Euro-Pop fever dream, this love letter to Eurovision is bursting with everything we love – and love to hate – about Eurovision: OTT costumes, exuberant dance routines, unbelievable accents and utterly predictable technical difficulties.

The wig department needed to work overtime to fashion a forest of hair for head – and pubes. There are real hairy chests, legs and underarms, with one hugely hairy and wobbly belly that seemed to have its own choreography. Prosthetic dicks and balls had their moments in the spotlight too.

Mini skirts, Bacofoil space suits, surgical stockings in glitter hi-heels, a bomber jacket teamed with a tutu, a bearded cross dresser in golden sequin gown vie with flashing images of hate figures of Trump, Putin and J.K. Rowling as we take a trip down musical memory lane.

Hats off to Michele Taylor for her costume design.

Just like the real thing, you’ll vote for your favourite act then, after a whirlwind European tour to collect jury votes, the results will be announced and the winner/s of Eurovision Your Decision will be crowned.

The producers warn: If you are easily offended then this show might not be for you.

If you ignore that message – and I strongly suggest you do – you’re in for a couple of hours of unadulterated fun. You don’t have to sign up to LGBTQ+ to enjoy.

McArthur has been a huge fan of the Eurovision Song Contest since UK’s Bucks Fizz ripped off their skirts in 1981. “This show is a true homage, directly from my heart to the competition,” he says.

“Eurovision is like Christmas for Gays.”

“If you love everything Eurovision then you will love this show… completely bonkers, sometimes makes no sense whatsoever but always fabulously camp.”

Reviews for this show over the last four years range from: ‘Stupendously Silly Eurovision Treat’ to ‘Hilarious, Barking Mad and Simply Brilliant.’ This year should garner more praise. There was even a BBC presence among the new fans.

All the vocalists, including the statuesque Jo Wickham and wiry David McMullan, plus voiceover artist Matt Richardson with his witty script, were on top form.

They took us across Europe – in those halcyon Pre-Brexit days – from that UK winner Making Your Mind Up by Bucks Fizz in 1981 via Switzerland, Ireland, Serbia, Norway, Ukraine and Malta. Who knew that tiny island has bendy buses courtesy of Boris and a very rude word that translates To Sing? On to Finland, Sweden and Austria. Poor Iceland – both the shop and the country – missed out thanks to Covid.

After clapping, sing-alongs, waving lighters in the air in this jolly Victorian pub across the road from Vauxhall station we got to vote by QR technology. Tension mounts. Third place: 4 votes. Second place: 28 votes. The winner: 24 million (not bad for a pub of 132 punters).

Whatever your vote, Eurovision Your Decision gets mine.